Artificial turf closer to reality at Strath Haven

By NEIL A. SHEEHAN

Saturday, May 11, 2013

NETHER PROVIDENCE -- A campaign to install an artificial turf field in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District's stadium is drawing to a close, with work expected to begin after the spring sports season.

Schools Superintendent Richard Noonan said the school board is scheduled to vote on a contractor to handle the work at its May 13 meeting.

"We're close to having all the money we need," Noonan said at the board's most recent meeting, adding the new field should be ready to use for fall sports.

As a tangible sign of the effort's progress, the volunteers behind the "TeamUp4 Turf" initiative handed over a check for $153,849 to school board President Vincent Marriott, who thanked them for their dedication.

Backers of the project initially pledged to raise $200,000 toward the field overhaul, but the cost has subsequently risen to $240,000 due to some later revisions. The organization previously donated $39,300 to cover engineering costs.

Pat Carney, chairman of TeamUp4Turf, acknowledged there is still some additional fundraising required.

The campaign has tapped donations from a wide variety of sources, including a senior residential facility in Nether Providence, area businesses, students, parents and a former Strath Haven High football star, Dan Connor, who now plays for the New York Giants.

Overall, the artificial turf field is estimated to cost more than $700,000. The bulk of that money will come from the school district via dollars that had been designated for field improvements but never expended.

Reasons cited for the need for the new field include overuse, scheduling flexibility and unsafe surface conditions.

In another athletic field-related development, the board approved a contract for maintenance/restoration of the high school varsity softball field. Jones Turf had a winning bid of $164,350 for the work, which will include the installation of new sod, aluminum benches and a concrete curb.